Accountability of the Fourth Estate
Who Will Protect Us?
When the phenomenon of the twenty-four hour news channel first revealed itself, something was lost. That something is the commoner's ability to think. The cognitive process has undergone restructuring at such a dizzying rate that rational problem-solving abilities have dwindled significantly within the upcoming generation.
The commoner's ability to discern and categorize personal experience as it relates to the global community has also suffered significantly. But, of course, how do I know this without some lobbyist backed study to qualify my claim?
Test the hypothesis yourself by querying someone regarding their current political stance. Chances are, if they have one, it will be some diatribe aired on a news show from the previous evening. It certainly will not be born of personal logic and/or reason.
Distributors of music, video games, movies, etc are federally mandated to post warning labels on certain materials for their undue influence on human behavior. Where are the warning labels for CNN, Fox, MSN, etc?
Who provides oversight for these demons? Who will protect us? Will the FCC or an army of lawyers protect us? Are these demons self-contained as they lobby for the monopolization of human thought?
Published by Paris Kaye
I am a writer! A "writer" in the sense that the act of writing is neither a pastime nor a luxury but a necessity. I have published a novel, several short stories and freelance articles and abstracts. View profile
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1 Comments
Post a CommentInteresting that you trace today's apathy to the birth of 24 hour news channels. I was coming of age about the time of CNN Headline News' beginning and perhaps it had to do with working in the media, but I've never allowed the status quo to dictate my thoughts. It's probably cost me dearly also to think outside the norm and play by rules that I felt were right, but not neccesarilly safe or popular. To answer your title question, considering I'm still considered a member of the media, I say the only people that should protect us is us ourselves. Deconstruct the story and ask questions and insist on answers. Nobody can do that for you.